Many of us take our dental health for granted.  We forget how important dental health is until there is constant pain, tooth loss, or chronic health complications.  You may be experiencing difficulty performing agricultural tasks because of a dental health condition. 

Research has shown that oral disease is highly linked to heart and lung diseases, diabetes and stroke.  Tooth decay is the most common chronic health problem in children.

To maintain a healthy mouth:

• Daily brushing (for 2 minutes twice a day) and flossing at home
• Eating a healthy diet with minimal sugar and starches
• Fluoride in drinking water
• Dental Sealants for children’s molars
• Professional cleaning and exam by a dental provider every 6 months

Difficulty Affording Dental Health Care?

Difficulty Finding a Dentist? 

We are aware of the high out-of-pocket costs for professional dental care and realize dental insurance is often seen as a luxury for most self-employed people.  Several States have screening programs through their public heath services. If you qualify for the S-CHIP program or Medicaid program, please access the links to see if your state has an available dental program. If you want to learn more about these programs, visit the Insure Kids Now webpage. 

Oral Cancer

The term oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the pharynx, part of the throat.  Oral cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 35,000 Americans this year and will cause approximately 7,500 deaths. 

Most oral cancer is preventable. 75 percent of oral cancers are related to tobacco use, alcohol use, or use of both substances together.

• Do not use tobacco products - cigarettes, chew, pipes or cigars. 
• If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. 
• Use lip balm that contains sunscreen. Exposure to sun is a risk factor.

Early Detection

It is important to find oral cancer as early as possible!  Your dental check-up is an excellent opportunity to have the quick and painless oral cancer exam. 

See a dentist or physician if any of these symptoms last for more than 2 weeks:

• A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat
• A white or red patch in your mouth
• A feeling that something is caught in your throat
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
• Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth
• Swelling of your jaw that causes dentures to become uncomfortable
• Pain in one ear without hearing loss

 Links to Dental Health information

  CDC Oral Health Resources - http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/

  American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org/

  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -
       http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/